My brother, Brent Slowik, had a mental illness called Paranoid Schizophrenia - "one of several types of schizophrenia, a chronic mental illness in which reality is interpreted abnormally. The classic features of paranoid schizophrenia are having beliefs that have no basis in reality and hearing things that aren't real."

Unfortunately in my brother's case this disease took his life by suicide. I walk every year in his memory and to help others like Brent.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me and/or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Please visit the team page for Brent's Buddies and sign up:http://www.nami.org/namiwalks11/NOR/brentsbuddies. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.

WHAT IS NAMI?

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all whose lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars.

About Me

We were married September 10, 2005 and live in a suburb of Portland with our chihuahua Ruby Jean. Chris is in marketing and Trista is a maternity nurse. Our sweet little girl, Norah Jane was born in October of 2009!